Hibiscus plant named ‘Antong Two’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Antong Two’, characterized by its compact, upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; small long-lasting white-colored flowers with red purple-colored centers and venation; and good garden performance.

Botanical Designation: Hibiscus syriacus.

Cultivar Denomination: ‘Antong Two’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHibiscus, botanically known as Hibiscus syriacus, commercially known asRose-of-Sharon or Althea, and hereinafter referred to by the name‘Antong Two’.

The new Hibiscus is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamedselection of Hibiscus syriacus, not patented. The cultivar Antong Twowas discovered and selected by the Inventor within a population ofplants of the parent selection in a controlled environment in AndongProvence, South Korea in 1995.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus by softwood cuttings in acontrolled environment in Seoul, South Korea since 1996, has shown thatthe unique features of this new Hibiscus are stable and reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Antong Two has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Antong Two’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Antong Two’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofHibiscus:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Small long-lasting white-colored flowers with red        purple-colored centers and venation.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the parentselection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants ofthe parent selection in plant size as plants of the new Hibiscus aremore compact than plants of the parent selection.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscussyriacus cultivar Red Heart, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Grand Haven, Mich., plants of the new Hibiscus differedfrom plants of the cultivar Red Heart in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus were more compact and less        vigorous than plants of the cultivar Red Heart.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus had darker green-colored leaves        than plants of the cultivar Red Heart.    -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus had smaller flowers than plants of        the cultivar Red Heart.    -   4. Flowers of plants of the new hibiscus lasted longer than        flowers of plants of thr cultivar Red Heart.    -   5. Plants of the new Hibiscus had smaller sepals than plants of        the cultivar Red Heart.    -   6. Plants of the new Hibiscus had shorter peduncles than plants        of the cultivar Red Heart.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Hibiscus, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Hibiscus.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflower of ‘Antong Two’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of typical flowering plants of ‘Antong Two’ grown in an outdoornursery.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Grand Haven, Mich. during the summerin a polypropylene-covered shadehouse and under conditions which closelyapproximate commercial production. Plants were about three years oldwhen the photographs and the description were taken. In the description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus syriacus cultivar Antong Two.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed    selection of Hibiscus syriacus, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 20 days at 24° C.        -   Time to develop roots.—About three months at 24° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial shrub. Compact,            upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.            Moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about 24 lateral            branches develop per plant after pinching (removal of            terminal) apex).        -   Plant height.—About 82 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 65 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 32 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 6 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 4 cm.        -   Texture, immature.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Texture, mature.—Woody.        -   Color, immature.—147A.        -   Color, mature.—191B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 7.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 4 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate to lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Crenate; undulate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces. —Smooth, glabrous;            rugose.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate; reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 143A. Developing            foliage, lower surface: 143B. Mature foliage, upper surface:            136A; venation, 136A. Mature foliage, lower surface: 146A;            venation, 146A.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper            surface: 136A. Color, lower surface: 146A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower appearance/arrangement.—Single rotate flowers;            terminal and axillary. Freely flowering habit with usually            about 22 flowers developing per lateral branch. Flowers face            upright to outwardly.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers are long lasting, lasting for            about three days on the plant. Flowers not persistent.        -   Natural flowering season.—Typically July and August in            Michigan.        -   Flower diameter.—About 9 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 4.5 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Shape:            Ovate. Color: 147B.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of a single whorl of            five petals. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 2 cm to            3.5 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base. Attenuate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces; Smooth,            glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 155D; towards the base and venation, 60A.            Color becoming closer to 155A with development. When opening            and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 155D.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a tubular calyx.            Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Roughly            rhombic. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature and            mature, upper surface: 147C. Color, immature and mature,            lower surface: 147B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: 147B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Anther shape: Rounded to            oblong. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther color: Close to            155D. Amount of pollen: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to            158B. Gynoecium: Pistil length: About 3.6 mm. Style length:            About 3.3 cm. Style color: Close to 155D. Stigma appearance:            Five, rounded. Stigma color: 158B. Ovary color: Close to            155D.        -   Seeds.—Quantity per flower: About 20. Length: About 6 mm.            Diameter: About 4 mm. Color: 192A.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to    have excellent garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures ranging from about −29° C. to about 38° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been    shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hibiscus.

1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Antong Two’ as illustratedand described.